On top: Chelsea maintained their five-point lead at the top with victory at Palace

Didier Drogba has been watching far more football than he would have liked this season, yet it has given him a chance to appreciate how this Chelsea side can emulate the greatest in the club’s history.

It was a decade ago that Drogba and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho arrived at Stamford Bridge and for two years the Blues were almost unstoppable.

Drogba describes the achievements of the 2004-05 side as “incredible” as they won the Premier League with a record 95 points. The following season they retained the title, leading from start to finish.

Although they could not repeat that success in the Champions League, Mourinho’s first Chelsea side are widely regarded as the best yet.

Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge last year saw the club finish third but they have been setting the pace this time and are unbeaten in their 11 games this season with a five-point lead at the top of the table.

The quality of football from Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Oscar matches anything Drogba, Frank Lampard, Arjen Robben and Damien Duff produced under Mourinho during his first spell.

Another win against Maribor in the Champions League at home tonight will also put the new generation within one victory of qualifying for the knock-out stage.

“I think we have had a fantastic start to the season,” said Drogba. “The only game we haven’t won in the League is at Manchester City, otherwise it would have been the perfect start.

“I think after what the group went through last season being close to winning the League and the difficult results in the Champions League, the group is stronger.

“It is more experienced and you learn from this kind of defeat. You try to become a better team, better players, stronger. I hope we have learned from these kind of mistakes. I hope this season we achieve what we want to achieve.

“I think about what Chelsea did in 2004-2005 and how that year was incredible. This is the season we had the moment where we were 12 points in front of Manchester United. We were the best team in the League and one of the best four or five in Europe.

“We had Lampard at his peak, Hernan Crespo and Michael Essien were here the following year. All the players were playing at a really high level.

“For us winning became a habit and we felt so bad when we lost. We want to create a similar feeling now.”

Chelsea v Maribor: Key Battles

Chelsea v Maribor: Key Battles

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Eden Hazard v Marko Suler

Hazard wants to be regarded as one of the world's leading players and has mesmerised at times this season. The Belgium forward will hope to dazzle against experienced Slovenia defender Suler.

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Nemanja Matic v Petar Stojanovic

Serbia midfielder Matic is a key, unfussy component of this Chelsea team and has featured in every game this term. He could be tested by the highly-regarded Stojanovic.

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Loic Remy v Zeljko Filipovic

France striker Remy has an opportunity to impress in the absence of Diego Costa, the Blues' leading goalscorer this term. Remy has craved Champions League football and will bid to unsettle a Maribor defence which has Filipovic at its centre.

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4/4
Luka Zahovic v John Terry

Son of Slovenia superstar Zlatko Zahovic, Luka Zahovic will likely come off the substitutes' bench and could offer another threat. The 19-year-old did just that last time out to score a 90th minute equaliser against Sporting, and the Slovenia Under-21 forward could cause Terry a few problems with his rapid pace, clever movement and close control.

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Against the Slovenia champions tonight, Drogba is expected to start just his second game since his return to the club this summer.

A combination of ankle injuries and the lethal form of top scorer Diego Costa, who is missing the match with a hamstring problem, has been the reason he is been out of the starting XI in the opening two months.

Drogba sees the same qualities in Costa at 26 that helped make him such a dangerous forward throughout his career.

The 36-year-old told Chelsea TV: “What I like in him is his character. We are quite similar, we never give up. That’s one point that makes me smile and respect him more. This start he’s made is fantastic. It’s what all strikers are dreaming of and he will want to continue because the season will be long and we will need him for important games.

“That’s why the squad is big with a lot of quality players. He is doing the job, he is doing what he has to do for the team to win trophies.”

Two players that should be in the line-up, despite the testing trip to Manchester United on Sunday, are Fabregas and Hazard.

The duo’s combination play in midfield has only been overshadowed by the almost telepathic relationship Fabregas has enjoyed with Costa. Now, Drogba wants to be the one to benefit and get that elusive first goal of the season.

“They’re so good,” he said. “They bring a lot to the team, their pace and vision is amazing. We are always going to create chances. That’s why we have to defend well as a team and hope for these players to create the good assists.”

Sitting on the bench hoping to get a chance to replace Drogba will be 17-year-old England youth striker Dominic Solanke, who was an unused sub at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Mourinho said: “He’s got a long way to go but the talent is there. The personality is there too. If the people surrounding him help us to complete our work then he’ll be an excellent player.”

It is just another reason why Drogba believes Chelsea’s future could be as exciting as their past.